My Lengthy SF History

Although I'm a newly-published SF author, I have a rather lengthy history with the subject. I've been reading science fiction and fantasy since I learned to read---a lot of comic books, the Mary Poppins books, Doctor Doolittle, etc.. By the early sixties, I was also writing fiction---mostly short stories and fantasy at that time. And I actually won the Creative Writing Award at HS graduation for a non-SF piece.

I've written a lot of non-fiction, too.: college essays and reports as well as a book-length art curriculum guide. But my first love has always been and continues to be sci-fi and fantasy in any form. I started attending SF cons ( conventions ) in March of 1969 in Boston. At first, I found myself a bit out of my element, but I quickly adjusted when I realized that everyone there was an SF fan and proud of it! Some of the famous writers I've met since are among the most intelligent people I've ever met. After that, I don't think it ever really bothered me that most "mundanes" ( SF-speak for mainstream folk, non -fans of SF ) looked down their noses at us, regarding us as "geeks" and nerds"---oh, my!

I recognized the value in my/their interests and dreams---and besides, it was a heck of a lot of fun!

Fandom gave me permission to be myself, to be different, to dream as far as the stars---and encouraged me to live my dreams. If you haven't got involved in SFF fandom yet, give it a try. You might be surprised at what you find!

MRTighe

Resisting Temptation

Some of the best advice I can give young ( and not-so-young ) writers is: don't throw out your work! There's always a temptation to toss the less-than-successful stuff you write. Refrain! Many, many times I've gone back over rough drafts, some of them written years ago, and discovered that I actually had something there. Not a finished product, of course, but the germ of an idea, something I could work with, rewrite, revise, or perhaps incorporate into another piece of writing or even into another form.

I think this rule applies to most art forms, whether painting, sculpting, music, or whatever. I can't tell you how many times I was sorely tempted to toss out every shred of Judgment on Tartarus and just forget it. But I held onto it, revised it, labored over it, until it reached its final form. In its first form it was, of course, unpublishable, and that was mighty discouraging. But looking back on the history of Judgment, I can only think there was a good reason for such a doggone long delay in getting it published. Had it been published when I first sent it off to a publisher, it wouldn't have been anywhere near as good a book as it is now. And I probably would never have written the rest of the trilogy: True Son of Tartarus and Ransom of Tartarus or they simply wouldn't be the books they are developing into today.

All for now,

MRTighe

Prequel(s)?

So the prequel to the Tartarus trilogy is coming along nicely, as I've told you before. This is the story of how Malkis left Tartarus and how he and Hughes met at the Interstellar Space Service Academy in Houston, Texas, USA. when they were youths. I also introduce some of the minor characters who won't appear until Book 3: Ransom of Tartarus---namely Hiro Orion Watenabe ( "Howie" ) and Barad of Eris, a Thrasian like Kalom.

Part of the plot of Malkis of Tartarus involves an evil Nazi-like group who call themselves AFE---Alien-Free Earth! I'm sure you can begin to imagine the problems that crop up when Malkis runs up against them. ( Hughes is no bigot, but as I've related in Judgment on Tartarus, he despised the Tartarian right from the get go.)

My biggest challenge still lies ahead. My daughter Sharyn mentioned she was looking forward to a book about the Gorgonian Wars! The instant I heard that I thought, "Makes sense. Why not?" Now I have to write that one too, God willing!

Oh, dear.

MRTighe

Reader Concerns

Promised you I'd discuss a couple of concerns my readers have. For instance, why communications aboard Astrella aren't more advanced ( ala Star Trek or Babylon 5, I suspect. ) Both those TV shows employed personal comm devices attached to either clothing or skin. This was done for dramatic effect, I'm sure. But practicality?

I did consider using some such technology but chose not to use it for some very simple reasons. People value their privacy, especially in close quarters such as a spaceship or spacestation. No one would want to risk an offhand comment like "The Captain's a bleeping bleep-bleep!" being accidentally overheard. Nor would anyone want less than absolute privacy in the bedroom or the head! Comm systems are best left in easily-acessible places where people could choose whether or not to use them, without risk of eavesdroppers.

Also, this story is set in the very early part of the 22nd century--a mere eighty-nine years from now. And the way our space program is going, it's hard to say now how advanced our technology is going to be by that time. I suspect we have much bigger problems than shipboard communication, such as the speed of space-travel and the safety and health of future astronauts.

That said, the latest on Judgment on Tartarus is that I now have three great reviews on Amazon.com ( one is four stars and two are five! ) and at least six other people that I know of are currently reading Judgment. I'm happy that people are enjoying it.

So much for now,

MRTighe

For People Who Don't Read SF

Do you have to be a fan of science fiction in order to enjoy reading Judgment on Tartarus? No, I don't think so. I've read a lot of different types of SF and enjoyed most of them, if well-written. But I definitely prefer "soft" SF where story and characters drive the action, rather than the hardware and scientific theories. As I've said before in my blogs, SF isn't all rockets, robots, and ray-guns. And my particular brand of it has a little of the flavor of fantasy---and even a dash of sword and sorcery.

In my reading, as well as in my writing, I prefer an intellectual challenge, engaging characters, and an engrossing storyline involving an emotional journey. My stories ( for the most part ) just happen to be set in the future, either on Earth, in space, or on a planet we haven't yet discovered. So if you're looking for an SF story where the stalwart hero---or heroine--- handily overcomes all odds and doesn't change one iota from the first page to the last, don't read Judgment on Tartarus.  And if you're looking for a story where technology and theoretical science are described in great detail, reading Judgment won't satisfy you. Everyone else, I think, will get some enjoyment from it.

So far all the feedback I've received has been positive, even from people who don't generally read SF. For that I'm truly grateful. Basically, I write to please myself, never knowing if anyone else will appreciate my work. I just hope for the best. I'm a bit surprised, as well as pleased, that so many people are enjoying my work so much! ( Later on I will discuss a couple concerns my readers have had, I promise.)

All for now,

MRTighe

Writing Is Fun for Control Freaks

As I've noted here before, when you're first learning to write, you're going to write a ton of sheer and utter drivel! We all do; in fact, some of it will be downright laughable. Don't take yourself so seriously. Laugh it off and move on. Persist and one day you might discover a small gem sparkling amidst all that crap: something you can latch onto, examine and polish---something to be carefully faceted and mounted in an exquisite setting.

Above all else, don't get discouraged! Take it from someone who let herself do so and now regrets the time wasted.

Okay, enough of the soul-searching already. Let's be brutally honest: writing can be downright fun! And if you're a control-freak like me, writing is also very satisfying; I get to do it all! I'm the director, the script writer, the casting director, set designer, etc., etc.! Who the heck wouldn't want that much power???

Thanks for reading,

MRTighe

Learning to Write

Exactly how do you become a writer?  Well, if you have a passionate desire to be a writer, first of all I'd advise you to read---read everything you can get your hands on. Learn about words, what they mean and how they can be used for different effects; study grammar and punctuation---all these are the tools of the trade. Then learn what works in your writing and abandon what doesn't. Don't think everything you write is a gem. We all write an awful lot of sheer drivel.

Pay attention to people. Try putting yourself in the shoes of everyone you meet. Develop empathy. Observe how people act and speak. Try to make the characters you invent "real"; they must live and speak and feel until they almost become flesh-and-blood. What happens to them must matter to you, and through you, to your readers. With these characters, you experience their suffering, their sorrow and their joy, and work through their dilemmas. That's what writers mean when they say, "My characters wrote this book!"

This is true. I wrote Judgment on Tartarus; my characters then wrote True Son of Tartarus and Ransom of Tartarus. I just helped them along the way.

That's all for today,

MRTighe